Shrine Church of St. Bernadette

Upcoming Events

• October Devotions – On Tuesday, October 28^th at 7:30PM we will have the solemn closing of October Devotions.  The Knights of Columbus will join us for the Rosary and the Litany of The Blessed Mother.  Weather permitting.  Devotions will be held, by candlelight in the outdoor Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
• Forty Hours Devotions – Our parish will once again have the Forty Hours Devotion to the Eucharist beginning at the 12:30PM Mass on Sunday, November 2^nd.  The Eucharist will be exposed after Mass for the adoration of the faithful.  Exposition will also take place on Monday and Tuesday after the last morning Mass.  On Monday evening at 7:00PM, there will be a Holy Hour of Adoration.  Tuesday evening will be the Solemn Closing Mass and Procession.  The preacher for Monday will be Father James Rodriguez and on Tuesday, Father Patrick Longalong will preach.  Father Rodriguez and Father Longalong are the two newly ordained priests of our diocese.  It is a pleasure and privilege to welcome them to St. Bernadette’s.  On Tuesday, the entire seminary community of Cathedral Seminary Residence in Douglaston will join us for the solemn closing.  It will be a great blessing to host these young men preparing for the priesthood in our diocese.  Please plan to be with us for Forty Hours.  This is a time of great graces and blessings for our parish, especially for our families.  Please bring a family member or friend with you.  What a tremendous sign of our faith and devotion to Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament it would be if our church was filled to capacity for each of the days!
• Confirmation Enrollment Mass – On Sunday November 23^rd at the 9:30AM Mass.  All Confirmation Candidates and their families will attend.
• Special Novenas We will be reciting the Novena Prayers to our Lady of Lourdes and to St. Bernadette after every Sunday and weekday mass, until the end of the Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, which is December 8th, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. You will find the prayers in the pew holders in front of you. Please return them to the proper place for all to use.
• If you have arranged to have a mass offered on a Sunday and you would like to carry the gifts to the altar at the Offertory, please inform the ushers upon your arrival at church so they know where you are seated and they will not pick someone else.  Please help us to avoid embarrassment and hard feelings.  If we do not know where you are seated, the ushers will select two other people.
• We remind parishioners that the New Directions for Receiving Holy Communion are to be followed.  When you are the next person to receive, you are asked to make a bow of your head in reverence to the Blessed Sacrament.  When it is your turn to receive let the host be placed on the palm of your hand, step aside, and with your free hand pick up the host and consume it.
• Parish Registration – We ask all new parishioners to stop by the rectory and register their families.  If you are not registered and using your weekly envelopes we cannot issue letters in connection with sponsorship for Sacraments or give recommendations for positions, schools, etc.  When moving out of the parish, please notify the rectory.
• Reminder – When you are reading the bulletin this week, take some time to look at the names of the many advertisers that support our church.  These businesses show their support by advertising in our Sunday bulletin.  We should return the favor by letting them know how much we appreciate it.  When you are shopping or looking for a business – look to our advertiser pages and let them know where you saw their ad and be sure to thank them for their support.
• Prayer for Vocations – Loving God, you chose Jesus as your beloved servant to bring justice to the world.  Through baptism you also call us to be your chosen servants.  Show us the path to follow and be with us on our journey.  May your Spirit guide women and men to serve the church.  Bless us with your grace now and forever.  Amen.

Parish Meetings & Committee News

• Altar Rosary Society meeting information to follow.
• Holy Name Society  meetings  are set on the Monday after the second Sunday of the month.
• Evangelization Committee meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 28^th at 7:30PM in the Rectory.  Please join us and bring a friend..
• The St. Bernadette Evangelization Committee invites you to join them for their weekly prayer group on every Monday night at 7:00 PM in the Rectory. The lectionary readings will be studied and reflected upon. Everyone is welcome.
• Outreach Committee will meet on Wednesday, October 29^th at 7:30PM in the Rectory.  This will be an events/activities planning meeting for November through February.
• Worship Committee More to follow.

Cluster News

• Diocesan Alcohol and Substance Abuse Assistance Program
  The Diocese of Brooklyn has created a program to provide confidential ongoing assistance to parish and community families who suffer from the effects of alcohol and substance abuse. The program provides counseling, support, treatment and care to those seeking assistance. To connect to a network of services that will help you and your family in addressing this concern, please make a confidential call to the Diocesan Alcohol and Substance Abuse Assistance Program Hotline: 1-800-659-1603. Any one with depression can also call the hotline. For general information, please visit Catholic Charities’ website: www.ccbq.org.
• Help the Needy Program
  Knights of Columbus John Hughes Council has created the Help the Needy Program in order to collect food clothing and toys to help the less fortunate. Items must be in good condition. Items can be brought to the council between the hours of 10am to 4:30pm and 7:30pm to 10pm, seven days a week. For more information, call John Adesso at (718) 614-2689 or Frank Marzigilano at (718) 533-0491
• Italian Board of Guardians
  Located at 7808 18 Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214 offers Home Companion Services, Counseling Services, Psychological Evaluations and Tutoring Services. Please call 718.232.4242 for more information.
• Make your Voices Heard
  The New York State Catholic Bishops have formed a statewide Catholic Advocacy Network of concerned Catholics who want to put their faith into action. Together, we can speak out in support of the poor and vulnerable, the sick and elderly, the unborn, children and families. Our parish encourages you to join this network. There is no cost. The easiest way to join is to go to www.nyscatholic.org to sign up. Or you can send your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to Catholic Advocacy Network, New York State Catholic Conference, 465 State Street, Albany, NY 12203-1004. Be sure to mention you are a member of St. Bernadette parish in the Diocese of Brooklyn. For more information, see the flyers in the back of the church.
• Our Lady of Angel’s Third Order Lay Carmelite chapter meets every first Saturday of the month.  Do you sense that God might be calling you into a deeper relationship with Him?  Men and women in every age identified themselves with the Carelites as members of the Third Order.  We invite you to se the answers to your questions and discern whether or not you may have a vocation as a Lay Carmelite.  We meet every first Saturday of the month from 2-4pm in the Cavanaugh Room at Our Lady of Angels Church, 7320 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.  For more information call: 718-788-5290, or 917-841-1403.
• Trip to the Holy Land – Father John Mendonca,  Pastor of Our Lady of Angelus Church in Rego Park is sponsoring a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from November 11^th to November 20^th, 2008.  Departure will be from JFK Airport.  Cost is $2,399 per person.  You will visit Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Nazareth, Mount Tabor, Cana, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Jordan River, Jericho, Bethany, Mt. of Olives, Gethsemane, the Wailing Wall, Temple Mount, Nativity, Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and may other biblical and historical sites.  For more information, call Father John at 718-897-4444 or Catholic Tour Company at 1-877-267-4268.
• Pirgrimage to the Holy Land – January 11-20, 2009, Spiritual Director:  Father Tom McNamara, OMF Cap., from St. Joseph the Worker in East Patchouque, Long Island.  Non-stop air from NY JFK – Sea of Gaililee, Jordon River, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho, Jerusalem, Masada, Dead Sea, and More.  Call Mike Milano, M and M Travel, 1-800-773-2660
• Attention:  Former Parishioners and School Alumni of Holy Innocents Parish, Brooklyn, NY:  The Centennial Committee of Holy Innocents Church in Flatbush Brooklyn, NY  would like to contact all former parishioners and school alumni as we prepare for our 100^th Anniversary as a parish.  Please contact Michael  Granillo, Tuesday – Friday, 9AM to 5PM, at 1-718-469-9500, or Trudy Zadrozny at trudy390@gmail.com.
• Caregivers Support Group – Our Lady of Angels Human Service Center will be forming a new Caregivers Support Group.  We want you to be a part of our group!  Every 2^nd and 4^th Wednesday of the month, 3:30PM to 5:00PM (Time and dates may be changed upon group’s request).  To sign up please contact:  Rudy A. Nieves, Our Lady of Angels Human Service Center, 336 – 73^rd Street, Brooklyn, NY  11209, 718-680-6344.  You are not alone!!!
• Mercy First – Angel Guardian Guild – Gift and Thrift Shop, 6301-12^th Avenue Brooklyn, NY, Open every Thursday from 10:30AM to 3:30PM and all proceeds to benefit the Youth Scholarship Fund..
• St. Edmund Preparatory High School Adult Education Program begins the week of October 27^th, Various courses will be offered.  Introduction to Painting, the Art of Knitting (beginners and advanced), Conversational Italian, Conversational Spanish, Introduction to Computer, Microsoft Office Applications, American Sign Language and Social Dancing.  In interested, please call 743-6100, ext. 41.
• St. Saviour High School Open House – 588 Sixth Street, Brooklyn, NY  11215 on Sunday, October 26, 2008 from 12:00PM to 2:30PM.  Mini –Open House on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 from 7:00PM to 8:30PM contact 718-768-4406.
• World Wide Marriage Encounter weekend is like autumn because it’s a weekend full of fresh air, new beginnings and a time to rejoice in the beauty of your marriage and family.  It’s a great time to rekindle communication and enjoy a weekend away.  The next weekend is Friday, November 7^th through Sunday, November 9^th.  For information or to register:  8770NYS-WWWMR or Web site:  www.mygmgwwme.org
• Archbisop John Hughes Council Knights of Columbus is having a Rock and Roll Oldies Dinner Dance Fund Raiser on Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 7:00PM.  Location 1305 86^th Street, Brooklyn, NY.  Donation is $50.00 per person Hot buffet – wine-beer-soda-coffee-cake and DJ music.  Cash bar will be available.
• St. Edmund Preparatory High School Adult Education Program begins the week of October 27^th.  Various courses will be offered.  Introduction to Painting, The Art of Knitting (beginners and advanced), Conversational Italian, Conversational Spanish, Introducation to Computer, Microsoft Office Application, American Sign Language and Social Dancing.  IF interested, please call 743-6100 Ext. 41.
• The Christophers have announced the Nineteenth Annual Poster Contese for High School Students with the theme, “You Can Make a Difference”.  Cash prizes totaling $2,250.00 will be awarded.  Entry deadline is January 19, 2009.  For rules and entry forms, contact The Christophers at 1-212-759-4050, e-mail youth@christophers.org or visit www.christophers.org.
• Life Center of New York, Inc.  is having their Annual Dinner on Sunday, November 9^th, at 2:00PM at the Bay Ridge Manor.  The cost of the dinner is $60.00.  Call their office at 718-748-4992 or 718-748-4490 for reservations.  Please assist them in their mission of helping mothers choose life for their unborn children.
• Bay Ridge Singles Club of Our Lady of Angels’ Church located at 7320 4^th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Meets for socials, dinners, brunch and dances, ages 35 to 62 years of age.
• Catholic Cruise to the Western Caribbean -  Come and sail away on a 8-Night Catholic Western Caribbean Cruise with Fr. Brendon Murphy, April 30^th to May 8^th, 2009 on the Carnival Miracle out of New York City, NY.  Ports of call:  San Juan, P.R., St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.and Tortola, B.V.I.  Prices begin at &!778.00 for two offered.  Deposits of only $50.00 per person will reseve your cabin.  Space is limited.  For further information or to register, contact Doug or Eileen at 860-399-1785, or dpayttc@aol.com.
• St. Michael’s RC Church located at 352 42^nd Street, Brooklyn, NY is hosting a Christmas Gala Concert with the famous Italian Tenor, Michael Amante.  The concert will be hosted by Tony LoBianco.  Please join us on December 7^th, 2008 at 3:30PM.  Tickets for the are $50.00.  For reservations and information, please call 718-768-6065.
• The Sisters of Charity-Halifax – Tickets are now on sale for the Elizabeth Ann Seton Awards Luncheon held on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at the Milleridge INnn in Jericho, NY.  The luncheon includes an awards reception and raffle drawings.  For further information or to make reservations, please contact Lauren Manning at 718-424-1813.

Fund Raisers

• Memorial Funds
  Remember to support St. Bernadette memorial funds next time you need to memorialize a relative or friend. Arrangements can be made through the Rectory to memorialize with bread, wine, altar flowers, altar candle or sanctuary lamp for one week.
• Prayer Cards
  Available now in the Rectory Office is an assortment of prayer cards for different saints and various special donations. The selection of prayer cards will change depending on the Liturgical season and upcoming feast days. There is a small donation of 25 cents for each card.
• St. Bernadette Wall of Remembrance
  You can remember your beloved departed with a small cross. The donation for the first year is $200.00 and each additional year is $100.00 The crosses are made from imported wood from Belgium, with the name engraved on a metal plate. There are three ways that the engraving can be made on these plates - “John Doe”, “Mr. & Mrs. John Doe” or “The Doe Family”. Included in this donation will be remembrance each month at the Purgatorial Mass and a special remembrance on All Souls Day. If someone wishes not to re-enroll, we will give them the cross as a keepsake. The cross is placed on the wall with a temporary label, and when the metal plate is engraved, it will be put on the cross. Arrangements can be made through the Rectory Office Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.
• Box Tops Education
  In the vestibule of the church, there is a large box where Box Tops can be dropped off. Find and clip 10¢ Box Tops coupon on hundreds of General Mills, Ziploc and Kleenex products to help St. Bernadette School can earn up to $60,000.00 per year.
• 2008 Annual Catholic Appeal
  If you have received the Appeal letter in the mail, please return it to the Diocese, making sure that you list St. Bernadette as the parish. If you will be making a pledge, please do so as soon as possible since the Appeal not only helps the Bishop, it also helps our Parish.  Please be as generous as your means will allow.